Oliver Hancock | Eisai Co., Ltd., Hertfordshire

What did you do for your PDP?

I rejoined the company I went on placement with (Eisai) at their EMEA headquarters in Hertfordshire just outside of London. My project was based around improving an existing process – the transfer of a viscous binding fluid into a process vessel during the tablet manufacturing process. Issues with the existing process had lost the company multiple six-figure batches of product, so it was my job to kick off the engineering design work for a more robust process/equipment setup. 

I started by engaging with several vendors/consultants, leading meetings with them at our site, to first understand what kind of potential solutions were out there in the market; I also attended another major pharmaceutical company’s site for a day to learn about how they performed a similar process. Once potential options were understood, I began to assess these using calculations to see whether these would fit my process and material requirements. I also had to consider cost, potential lead times, health and safety, operability, amongst other criteria.

At this stage, I presented my work and recommended path forward to the heads of engineering, as I required budget holder approval for capital expenditure to progress the project. After gaining approval, I spent ~£20k designing and procuring a trial equipment setup to get firm evidence that the potential new solution will be effective for our application such that significant capital expenditure could be carried out. I planned and led the trials over 5 days of factory downtime, these were highly successful overall but not without their unexpected challenges! 

Following successful trials, I began to map out how the final process/equipment would look, our requirements/degrees of freedom for vendors, control system requirements, etc. This was done with a team of subject matter experts across multiple departments to ensure I wouldn’t create new problems for others whilst solving the current ones! My project ended with commissioning detailed design from our chosen equipment vendor. 

Although I drove the project, I did not do this alone, and always had support from a strong team of subject matter experts across engineering, technical, quality operations, and production operations.

Why did you decide to take the PDP opportunity?

I rejoined the company I went on placement with at their EMEA headquarters in Hertfordshire just outside of London. My project was based around improving an existing process – the transfer of a viscous binding fluid into a process vessel during the tablet manufacturing process. Issues with the existing process had lost the company multiple six-figure batches of product, so it was my job to kick off the engineering design work for a more robust process/equipment setup. 

I started by engaging with several vendors/consultants, leading meetings with them at our site, to first understand what kind of potential solutions were out there in the market; I also attended another major pharmaceutical company’s site for a day to learn about how they performed a similar process. Once potential options were understood, I began to assess these using calculations to see whether these would fit my process and material requirements. I also had to consider cost, potential lead times, health and safety, operability, amongst other criteria.

At this stage, I presented my work and recommended path forward to the heads of engineering, as I required budget holder approval for capital expenditure to progress the project. After gaining approval, I spent ~£20k designing and procuring a trial equipment setup to get firm evidence that the potential new solution will be effective for our application such that significant capital expenditure could be carried out. I planned and led the trials over 5 days of factory downtime, these were highly successful overall but not without their unexpected challenges! 

Following successful trials, I began to map out how the final process/equipment would look, our requirements/degrees of freedom for vendors, control system requirements, etc. This was done with a team of subject matter experts across multiple departments to ensure I wouldn’t create new problems for others whilst solving the current ones! My project ended with commissioning detailed design from our chosen equipment vendor. 

Although I drove the project, I did not do this alone, and always had support from a strong team of subject matter experts across engineering, technical, quality operations, and production operations.

What support did you receive from the Department in securing the PDP?

The department advised on whether my project would meet the module/PDP guidelines, and also gave guidance on relevant literature review topics that would suit my project.

What have you learnt from this experience?

I learned a lot during the PDP, both on the technical side and more personal/softer skills. I got a lot of experience working on the same piece of equipment/process and now have a really good practical understanding of the unit which is fairly common/critical in the industry. A lot my work was also around control systems and fluid flow, these are really key for chemical/process engineers and highly transferable. Leading quite a large project I learned a lot about project management; how to communicate with stakeholders, how to present to different backgrounds, manage timelines and expectations etc. Projects like this always require input from different stakeholders, both internal and external, so there was a lot of opportunity to improve my ability to work in a team and communicate effectively. Returning to a team that I had worked with previously I was able to see the progress in myself and my work.

What benefits has the PDP brought to you?

The main benefit of my PDP was the boost it gave to my professional development and credibility. On placement I was really just learning the ropes and managing some smaller projects whereas my PDP enabled me to lead and deliver value on a major open-ended project. I have already been able to point to this project in applications and interviews etc to demonstrate I can solve problems and have positive impact in a professional environment. It was also great for my personal development, while allowing me to further build my network with some experience professionals in and around the industry.

What has been the best experience outside of your research during your PDP?

I lived and worked a short train away from London, so I spent a lot of weekends and evenings out with both friends and colleagues. I also managed to secure a good graduate role in the city whilst undertaking my PDP which was definitely a highlight.

What advice would you give someone considering doing a PDP?

It’s definitely worth going for the MEng so you can do a PDP, but make sure you are proactive in trying to secure your PDP – this will ensure you get a project you are interested in/is most beneficial to you and will ultimately give you the best experience possible. Going into industry for such a project, or doing research abroad, are such great opportunities to develop yourself both personally and professionally. It will likely be your best opportunity to complete a truly impactful project and differentiate yourself before graduating and will leave you in great stead for your future.